Things to do in Banff in Summer – Where is Banff?

Banff is in Alberta, Canada, located in Alberta’s Rocky Mountains, 110–180 kilometres (68–112 mi) west of Calgary. I have been dreaming of visiting this area including Banff national park for years now and its mountainous terrain, with many glaciers and ice fields, dense coniferous forest, and alpine landscapes did not disappoint. In this travel guide I will show you things to do in Banff in summer if you only have 3.5 days.

Things to do in Banff in Summer – Best Time to Visit?

The best time to visit Banff and the national park in Alberta, Canada is June-August and December to March. If you’re a nature lover like me, you will want to get to the park when the weather is warm and welcoming (and while the hotel rates in town are at a reasonable level). The skiers, however, will want to vacation in the height of winter. The weather in August can be as high as 70 degrees to a low of 30 degrees by night. I noticed in the day time until about 5pm it’s pretty hot (shorts weather) and by evening you will need to wear full pants/jacket as it starts getting chilly.

Things to do in Banff in Summer – Parks Pass?

One of the best things to do in Banff in the summer is to visit Banff National Park. You can purchase a Parks Canada pass at any park gate to visit Banff National Park. Yes, Parks Canada employees do check, and you can get a ticket if you don’t have one. You’ll hit a Parks Canada gate right after Canmore along the Trans-Canada Highway if coming from Calgary before entering Banff. There is also a Visitor Center in both Golden and Field which sells Parks Passes.

Parks Canada pass prices are as follows:

• Adult: $10.50
• Senior: $9.00
• Youth (up to 17): Free
• Family/group of 7 people: $21.00
• Day passes expire at 4 pm the following day.

Discovery Pass:

If you’re staying in the Rockies for more than a few days, I recommend a Discovery Pass. A Parks Canada Discovery Pass, which gets you entrance to all Parks Canada destinations for the year, is only $145.25 for a family. Day passes are $10.50 per person, so depending on how many days you are staying and if you have plans to go elsewhere like Banff, Yoho, or Jasper, you may want to consider the Discover Pass. Discovery Pass fees are as follows:

• Adult: $72.25
• Senior: $61.75
• Family: $145.25

Things to do in Banff in Summer – 3.5 Days

If you have only 3.5 days to visit Banff, I’m going to show you how I split each day so I could see all the best things to do in Banff in the summer. If you have an extra two days don’t miss Jasper National Park. Although I didn’t visit Jasper, I started driving toward this national park and boy did I wish I had had those extra days. The drive alone is incredible.

Things to do in Banff in Summer – Day 0

I booked an 8:30am flight via Westjet/Delta from San Francisco to Calgary for Banff National Park. In two hours and fifty minutes my flight touched down in Calgary. From Calgary airport, I picked up my car rental and was soon on my way to Banff town. Instead of staying in Banff town however, I opted to get an airbnb 20 minutes away in nearby Canmore. I checked into the airbnb, deposited my luggage and headed into Banff town for lunch. Note: As of August, 2022 you need to wear masks on a Westjet flight to and from Canada & submit proof of vaccination online.

Ride the Gondola up to Sulphur Mountain

Post lunch, I rode the gondola up Sulphur Mountain. One of the best things to do in Banff in summer is Sulphur Mountain. This Banff Sightseeing Gondola is located just five minutes’ driving distance from the town of Banff. The eight-minute gondola ride takes you to a lofty altitude of 2,281 metres (7,486 feet) in cabins that seat up to four people. Once at the top, I recommend you follow the boardwalk and walk 500m along the ridge line of Sulphur Mountain itself to Sanson Peak. Post walk, you can enjoy a hot chocolate at the cafe or go upstairs to dine at the Sky Bistro (make reservations). The walk is easy with multiple steps. Alternatively you can hike all the way up to Sulphur Mountain (6.8mi out and back) if you don’t want to take the gondola.

Gondola Parking

Parking can be very tight at the Gondola during the summer, especially during the daytime before 5 PM. Take the free shuttle from downtown Banff. It’s a breeze! It runs Saturday and Sundays from May 21 to June 12 and daily from June 13 to October 9th to and from Downtown Banff. See schedule for pick up and drop off details.

Gondola Hours of Operation & Costs

Costs: Book tickets well in advance to the Gondola to get the lowest price. Prices range from $44 onward.

June 30 – September 5	Daily, 8 AM – 10 PM	8:30 PM
September 6 – October 10	Daily, 9 AM – 9 PM	7:30 PM

Things to do in Banff in Summer- Day 1

Emerald Lake

On a whim, I decided to spend the day on day 2 driving toward Yoho National Park. This is one of the things to do in Banff in summer because Yoho National Park is so less than an hour away from Banff town! My first stop was Emerald Lake. If you do one thing here, please canoe. The crowds are less in the morning and if it’s a sunny day, the lake shimmers a gorgeous turquoise green. This is easily one of the Canadian Rockies’ finest lakes. Less famous than Banff and Jasper National Park, Yoho is definitely worth the visit as it’s SO close by!

Best views at Emerald Lake

The classic view of Emerald Lake with the 2599 meters high Mount Burgess in the background can be seen from the wooden bridge. The lake’s typical green color is caused by glacial silt that flows to the lake from the glaciers high in the mountains and is best seen on a sunny day in summer.

What to do at Emerald Lake

If you don’t want to canoe, then the lakeshore trail around Emerald Lake is flat and easy. It’s a 5.2 kilometers long loop with minimal elevation gain, and it should take roughly two hours to finish the hike, depending on your pace and how many stops you take along the way. Tip: Canoe costs $70 per hour and is cheaper than canoeing at Lake Moraine or Lake Louise in Banff National Park. You can also stay at the Emerald Lake Lodge. Click here for the best rates for Emerald Lake Lodge.

Takakkawa Waterfalls

The second highest waterfall in Canada is Takakkaw Falls at 373 meters. Takakkaw Falls is also extremely accessible and almost any visitor to the Rockies should be able to see it. There is a parking area and a well-maintained path which will get you up close to the falls. Even though you can see the falls from the parking lot the best views are from the trail which is pretty flat.

Hiking Takakkawa Waterfalls Trail

The hike is 1.4 km round trip and only 36 meters of elevation gain on a well-maintained path. As you cross over the bridge you’ll really start to feel the power of the falls, and depending on the time of year you visit you may start to get wet. I would suggest bringing a rain jacket with you! The hike is kid, pet, wheelchair, elderly and stroller-friendly!

Natural Bridge

The Natural Bridge is a stop-off point on Emerald Lake Road. The turn-off is easy to miss, so keep an eye out for it on your left as you head up to Emerald Lake. The natural bridge is made out of rock that was cut by the Kicking Horse River.

Iceline Trail

The Iceline Trail is one of the most beautiful hiking trails in Yoho National Park. You’ll need to plan a day to tackle it, or make it a backpacking trip. The hike is 14.2km and offers waterfalls, glacier lakes and wildflowers! Not much elevation or scrambling, just a really longgggg trail.

Wapta Falls

Wapta Falls is 18 meters high and a whopping 107 meters wide, making it one of the most impressive sights in the Canadian Rockies.

Things to do in Banff in Summer – Day 2

Lake Minnewanka

Today I woke up super early and drove out to Lake Minnewanka, a large glacial lake five kilometres (three miles) from the town of Banff. One of the best things to do in Banff in summer is to see sunrise at this lake. I reached the lake around 6:30am. Artifacts have been found on the shores of Lake Minnewanka that date back to 13,000 years ago, and the lake has a long human history. It’s believed that humans have settled along its shores for millennia. The name Minnewanka comes from the Stoney Nakoda language.

Sunrise at Two Jack Lake

At 6:30am I parked at the parking lot for Two Jack lake that’s part of Lake Minnewanka – it’s an out and back 4.6km hike around the lake if you wish to walk. Parking is free. Tip: Just nav to Two Jack Lake and it’ll take you to the campgrounds parking lot from where you can catch sunrise.

Lake Moraine

Today was also the day I had been waiting for most of my life 🙂 Lake Moraine has been on my bucketlist since the time I knew about Banff National Park and is one of the best things to do in Banff in summer.

How to visit Lake Moraine

The best way to get to Lake Moraine is by booking a Parks Canada shuttle because the parking lot can get completely packed in the summer, before sunrise. Yes you may be turned away. Once you’re on the shuttle website, chose the shuttle to Lake Louise Moraine option. I picked Moraine Lake as “shuttle destination” since I wanted to go there first. You can also select your time, with the first slot beginning at 6:30am. The shuttle connector that takes you from Moraine to Louise is free. Round trip cost is $20 for adults, $10 for youth & seniors. You’ll need to sign in on the page in order to make the reservation. Once you get your email confirmation you’re all set.

Rockpile Upper Viewing Point

When you first get off the shuttle, be sure to head to the rockpile trail to the upper viewpoint so you can get a stunning view of the turquoise lake and the Ten Peaks in the background. Follow the trail next to the bathrooms in the parking lot and cross a small wooden bridge. Once you cross the bridge, keep walking up the trail and keep right (left goes to Consolation Lakes) where you can find lots of small viewpoints of the lake. This should take about 10 minutes or so and it’s steep as you’re climbing up to the viewpoint, but very doable even for the elderly.

Moraine Lake Lakeshore Trail

Starting from the beautiful Moraine Lake Lodge, find the trail near the lake shore. The trail will stay on, or near the lake shore along the entire western edge of the lake. This means that you’ll have astounding views of the turquoise-blue water and the Valley of Ten Peaks the whole time. The trail doesn’t gain any elevation so it should be very accessible for all ages and abilities. It’s an easy .8mi walk.

Canoe in Lake Moraine

One of the most iconic places to canoe with the beautiful backdrop of mountains is here in this lake. Cost for renting a canoe start from $130.00 CAD plus tax per canoe for a one-hour rental. Paddle, life jackets, and basic instructions are provided. Arguably this is one of THE things to do in Banff in summer.

Eating in Lake Moraine

The Snowshoe Café is Moraine Lake’s very own boutique café serving all your favorites including delicious coffee. They have an outdoor patio area that faces the lake and wildflowers that’s gorgeous.

Best time to visit Lake Moraine

To see Lake Moraine when it’s not frozen visit during July, August or September. The most beautiful time of day to visit Moraine Lake is at sunrise, as it lights up the mountains and lake and makes for the brilliant scene you’re probably hoping to see. Early morning is when you have the best chance of having clear weather. Clouds can cover the mountains and really impact your view. Tip: Visit Lake Moraine during weekdays to avoid the crowds.

Traveling solo to Lake Moraine

If you’re traveling solo and don’t have a car, you can also see Moraine Lake by going on an organized tour. Book the Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus from Banff. Your ticket includes stops at 7 popular places within Banff National Park, including Johnston Canyon, Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, Samson Mall, and the Lake Louise gondola. You can choose to hop off at all the above stops or simply select a few favorites. Tickets for the hop-on-hop-off bus cost from $70 CAD.

Another good option is this 4-hour guided tour starts in Banff and includes a tour of both Lake Louise and Moraine Lake. Your experienced local guide will tell you all about the history of the area as well as take you to a secret viewpoint of Moraine Lake. This tour only operates from April to November. Prices for this particular tour are around $100 CAD per person and include round-trip transportation from Banff. 

Lake Louise

Between mid-June to October, parking at Lake Louise is a struggle. You’ll want to arrive before 8:00 a.m. to secure a parking spot at Lake Louise, which means an early rise unless you stay at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. If you have the shuttle ticket however you can just use the Shuttle Connector and go in between Moraine and Louise easily throughout the day.

Tea at Fairmont

One of the best things to do in Banff in summer is to treat yourself to an afternoon of high tea at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. The cost is around $70 per person and you have both meat and vegetarian options. Known as an iconic hotel in Banff National Park, Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise first opened in the late 1880s by the Canadian Pacific Railway.  Having tea here in a castle-like setting filled with fine dining ware and an unbelievable view of emerald colored water surrounded by rocky mountains is absolutely magical.

P6 Glacier Hike

Pre or post tea, go hike one of the many gorgeous trails around the lake. The trail to the Plain of Six Glaciers Tea House takes you up close to the heart of Mount Lefroy, Mount Victoria and the Victoria Glacier. At the end, relax with a cup of hot tea at the tea house. It is a moderately challenging hike that can be accomplished by people of average fitness. It begins as an easy stroll around the shoreline of the lake. After the initial two miles, get ready for some incline. This is a 9.1mi out and back trail with 1,929ft elevation gain. You can also just stop at the tea house and return if you don’t want to hike farther to the glacier viewpoint.

Agnes Tea House Hike

This is another popular hike and one of the things to do in Banff in summer! You will hike 4.6mi round trip to another tea house with an elevation gain of 1,427ft and stop at the tea house for homemade cookies!

Little Beehive via Agnes Hike

This is a moderately challenging hike that’s 5.6mi out and back with an elevation gain of 1,755ft. It’s a gradual slope up the entire way with plenty of views of the glacial valley and Lake Louise throughout. Pass by mirror lake and Lake Agnes, finish the extra half mile from the tea house to the little beehive, then hike back down and enjoy some tea.

Lake Louise Lakeshore Trail

This is an easy flat 1.2mi hike along the shores of the stunning Lake Louise. If you don’t want to or don’t have time to do any other hikes, do this one! There’s plenty of benches to relax and take in the views!

Things to do in Banff in Summer – Day 3

Today I left Canmore around 8am and drove toward Johnston Canyon. By 9am I pulled into a fairly empty parking lot which was packed by 11am. Tip: Get here by early morning otherwise the parking lot will be full.

Johnston Canyon Falls Trail

It’s a short, easy hike through a deep mountain canyon with many beautiful waterfalls along the way. You can either hike to just the lower falls or keep going upward to the upper falls. Bonus: If you go past the upper falls you can continue on to the Inkpot trail which I loved. Get ready to walk directly above Johnston Creek on elevated catwalks bolted to the side of the canyon and then enter a dark cave to get super close to the Johnston Canyon Lower Falls. Tip: You may get a little wet! Lower Falls: 1.4mi out and back hike. Upper Falls: 3.2mi out and back hike. Inkpot Trail: 7.3mi out and back and rated moderate by AllTrails.

Peyto Lake Viewpoint

Viewpoint #1: Peyto Lake is super accessible, you just drive into the parking lot at the bottom and walk up 10-15 minutes (the walk is steep but short). The upper portion of the parking lot is reserved only for shuttle/bus drop offs. This lake is so accessible therefore it’s also very popular.

Viewpoint #2: To avoid the crowds, from the first viewpoint continue on the path straight ahead of you (not the one that goes left to the coach car park). Eventually the path will split into three paved parts. You want to look for the fourth option to the right which is a dirt track. Make sure you don’t take the ones heading downhill as this will take you to the shore of Peyto Lake! The correct trail is a narrow dirt path through the forest and is virtually flat. As you make your way along the path after a few minutes you will reach an opening where you can see Peyto Lake, continue along the path until you reach the main view. It’s only about 5-10 minutes but unfortunately there is no signpost.

Bow Lake Viewpoint

This viewpoint is also easily accessible with a large parking lot. Once you park your car, you can walk around the lake and take in the different views, or dip your feet in the rather cold water (even in August) or take out a kayak/SUP.

Grassi Hike Trail

This short picturesque trail is great for families and is one of Canmore’s most popular hikes. Choose from the easy route, which takes you up a gentle incline to the spectacular turquoise lake, or the more challenging wooded trail that passes by a waterfall and offers beautiful views of Canmore and Bow Valley. Plan for about one to two hours for this 4 km (2.5mi) hike.

Things to do in Banff in Summer – Restaurants?

Una Pizza: This place is awesome for a lunch stop right in downtown Banff. Sit outside if you can, the views are gorgeous. The food is also good! I recommend the California Karaage, the Simple Green Salad, the veggie pizza and the House Made Ricotta.

Magpie and Stump: If you like Mexican food, this place is awesome, especially the rooftop dining! I had an early dinner here and enjoyed their tacos! The decor is cute and the vibe is lively and fun.

Little Wild: Coffee by Wild Flour : I stopped here for coffee and breakfast one morning before heading out to Yoho National Park. It’s super cute, get ready for long lines (unless you get there early), and the pastries are out of this world. They also have sandos for breakfast.

Farm and Fire: Farm and Fire is interesting as in their food portions are large so it’s good for family style dining. Try the Compressed Watermelon, Strawberry Ricotta Bruschetta, crispy Cauliflower and their Tea and Tomato salad! The interior is okay, but food is good.

White Bark Cafe: I went here for coffee as well one morning and it’s a smaller cafe than Little Wild. It’s decent if you want coffee and a quick grab & go breakfast frittata.

Chuck’s Steakhouse: This is a fancier dining option right in downtown if you want to celebrate a long hike or if you particularly love steak. The ambience is great and the views are also terrific depending on where you are seated.

Juniper Bistro: If you can get a reservation here, get one in the outdoors patio, it’s absolutely beautiful! I couldn’t get reservations so I have no idea about the food, but it has high ratings!

Things to do in Banff in Summer – Accommodations?

I chose to stay in Canmore for my visit to Banff National Park. I stayed at the Silver Creek Lodge with fantastic views of the Rockies. Canmore is around 20 minutes from Banff town and about an hour from all the popular sights. If you’re traveling solo, or you want access to a variety of restaurants/boutiques then stay in downtown Banff. Yes, it’s more of a touristy vibe than Canmore but it’s more convenient, especially if you don’t have a car.

Luxury

The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel is an excellent choice if you want luxury accommodations.

Budget

For those traveling on a budget, the Banff Rocky Mountain Resort and the Tunnel Mountain Resort offer more affordable rates.

Conclusion

I would recommend at least 5 days in Banff so you can explore Yoho and Jasper National Park as both have plenty of offer in terms of natural beauty and breathtaking scenery! I hope this guide helps you plan your trip to Banff. Questions?! Please leave them in the comments or ping me on Instagram at @eagertravele and thanks for stopping by!